More Top Stories
Top cop position advertised
7 December 2024
Police need numbers and bigger budget
9 December 2024
Niki Rattle: A call for stronger human rights protections
10 December 2024
Solid and Hazardous Waste Bill referred to Parliament committee
10 December 2024
DPM defends CIIC finance and travel policies
6 December 2024
Cook Islands has its first mosque
14 November 2024
CI Muslim opens up about her faith and journey
16 November 2024
RAC to address mosque legality
19 November 2024
I don’t expect much change: PM Brown on US Elections
6 November 2024
Fifth weekly Sydney flight to Rarotonga announced
23 October 2024
CIIC directors seek $350,000 in damages over defamatory claims
21 October 2024
Man found guilty of rape, burglary
24 September 2024
Tenants face water bill burden
8 October 2024
Concerns over Minister’s role in inmate work releases: PAC
5 October 2024
Tourism contribution set to surpass half-billion dollar mark
25 September 2024
Parliament Clerk sparks outrage over deep sea mining statement
23 September 2024
Deep sea dilemma: Cook Islanders weigh the cost of mineral riches
21 September 2024
Anxiety on the rise: Cook Islands faces mental health challenge
7 September 2024
Cook Islands deep sea mining poll sparks controversy
7 September 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Rising seas, rising costs: Climate impacts on Cook Islands economy
2 September 2024
Inflation eases but concerns remain
31 August 2024
Prime Minister defends $659,000 MPs travel bill
23 August 2024
Taxpayers foot $659,000 bill for MPs travel and allowance
22 August 2024
Corruption report exposes ‘bribe and sexual favours’
17 January 2023
PM Brown eager to hand over Forum chair role to Tonga
13 August 2024
ICI explains road works delay in front of old Sheraton site
10 August 2024
Housing crisis hits tourism industry
27 July 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
National
Police seek public cooperation for festive security
Cook Islands Police are launching a community policing initiative with volunteer support from each vaka in Rarotonga to enhance safety and security during the festive season.
Families navigate inflation, businesses stock up for festive season
As Christmas approaches, local families and businesses in Rarotonga are feeling the seasonal buzz. While the island’s shops are busy preparing for the influx of shoppers, families are making sure they have everything needed for the festive season.
Pa Puia Rangatira seeks family reconciliation after title dispute
Rota Williams has been invested with the title of Pa Puia Rangatira surrounded by his family and guests at the new Pa Puia Marae in Tupapa last week.
Te Ipukarea Society: The mysteries of the Pacific Starlings
Have you ever been for a walk in the forest and been lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a smokey dark grey bird with pale yellow eyes? If you have, you may have been looking at the shy and hard to find ‘Ī’oi or Rarotonga starling.
Possibilities for women in maritime ‘endless’
Cook Islands women in maritime will be celebrating the International Day for Women in Maritime at Te Are Tapaeanga Pavilion at Avatiu Harbour today.
Cook Islanders caught in food shortages amid Nouméa unrest
Cook Islanders residing in Nouméa, New Caledonia, are concerned about food stocks as the violent unrest, which has claimed five lives, begins to subside.
Parliament fixes ‘oversight’ on preferential residency for Kiwis
Parliament has passed a bill to amend the Immigration Act in order to comply with a court ruling that found a residency regulation giving preferential treatment to New Zealand citizens to be invalid.
Man who stole pigs to face justice
A man who has admitted to stealing a male and female pig this year in Rarotonga will be sentenced on June 19.
Lights out in Raro: Switch gear fumbles, planned outage looms
A failed switch gear in the Tupapa substation caused this week’s unexpected power outage as Rarotonga’s electricity provider announces a planned outage for this weekend.
Cook Islands bans vapes, raises smoking age to 21
Cook Islands Parliament passed a bill banning imitation tobacco products like e-cigarettes and raising the smoking age to 21.
Public sector orientation enhances and equips new officials
Twenty-four public service officials participated in a one-day Public Sector Orientation (PSO) session delivered by the Office of the Public Service Commissioner (OPSC) last month, as part of standard onboarding and recruitment.
Cook Islands seeks lessons from Kosovo’s path to IMF
Officials within the Cook Islands Foreign Service were able to engage with Kosovo’s recently accredited Ambassador to the Cook Islands, Jetmira Berdynah-Shala, as part of her programme of engagements in Rarotonga last week.
‘I vow to be a fierce advocate for our needs’: MP Tapaitau
Independent candidate Sarakura Tapaitau was sworn in as the new MP for Penrhyn/Tongareva and has pledged to represent the people’s interests.
Doubling GDP needed for NZ-level minimum wage: PM Brown
Cook Islands can only afford a minimum wage similar to New Zealand’s if it more than doubles its gross domestic product to $1.2-$1.5 billion, according to Prime Minister Mark Brown.
Parliament briefs
Six Bills were presented and tabled during yesterday’s Parliament sitting.
‘Budget prioritises vulnerable’
In supporting the most vulnerable, the Government has allocated funds for caregivers, patient referrals, increasing the minimum wage, and supporting non-government organisations (NGOs) for the next financial year.
Government aims to stimulate economy through infrastructure spending
Government’s focus on infrastructure investment to deliver key projects such as roads, Manihiki Airport upgrades, and Aitutaki’s water project has been proposed in the 2024/2025 Budget. Yesterday, Prime Minister Mark Brown, who is also the Minister for Finance, tabled the Appropriation Bill 2024 in Parliament where Government has proposed $328million for the 2024-2025 Budget. In […]
Imanuela Akatemia celebrates new roof and water tank
The Imanuela Akatemia School celebrated the handover of its newly renovated roof and installed water tank, all made possible by generous grants from the Japanese government
Cook Islanders in Nouméa on ‘high alert’ as violence erupts
Cook Islanders residing in Nouméa are on high alert amidst the violent unrest unfolding in New Caledonia’s capital over proposed constitutional changes. Rashneel Kumar and Losirene Lacanivalu report.
Vaimaanga residents sought for input on turtle tour operations
A community consultation for residents in Vaimaanga and stakeholders, including traditional leaders and landowners, will be held tomorrow, Thursday, May 16, at 6pm at the Vaimaanga Meeting House
Immigration Cook Islands consolidate workforce forward priorities and effort
Immigration Cook Islands closed their offices for one day earlier this month to convene an all staff gathering to reflect on the work of the last three years and consolidate forward priorities and effort for the three years ahead.
PM pledges ‘good budget’ despite inflation and debt challenges
The 2024/25 Budget will be the “budget of perseverance”, says Prime Minister Mark Brown.
